Typewriting machine



Dec. 1,

1931- F. FRAY TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec 20. 1927 Mme/var. V

I A 7 omey.

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 PATENT OFFICE" FBED I'RAYQOEPADUCAH, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR. TOVUNDERVWOOD E LIormrIsHER COMPANY, OF NEW.YORK, N; Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE- r yrnwnnrme MACHINE Applicatiou'filed December 20, 1927. Serial No. 241,310.

This; invention relates to line-spacing levers, particularly for use on Underwood portable typewriting machines, and the ob-' ject of the invention is to improve such levers to secure increased convenience and-ease of operation for the typist. i I I A typewriting machine of this type includes a carrying case, and it'is desirable to keep the weight of the machine and case as low as possible, and the dimensions, particularly the height, as small-as possible. In order to keep the height of"the carrying case low, the machine has been provided with an integral horizontally-extending :line-spacelever and finger-piece mounted on the platencarriage withjust sufficient clearance to actuate the line-space mechanism and effect the return of the platen without interfering with any of the operating parts of the machine. The lever and finger-piece do not extend above the highest points of the type-. writer-parts and therefore the height of the portable case is not increased to accommodate the lever.

According to the present invention the line-space-lever is provided with a fingerpiece pivoted thereto, which does not increase the weight of the machine, and, in its lowermost position, will not interfere in any manner with the machine being positioned in a carrying case of the same height as before. l Vhen the typewriter is in use this pivoted finger-piece may be swung so as to extend upwardly for the convenience of those accustomed to an upwardly-extending finger-piece, to facilitate in the operation of the machine.

The finger-piece is provided with springoperated means for yieldingly securing it in its upwardly-extending position for operating the shift-lever. The lever has a stop for supporting the finger-piece in its lowered horizontal position, so that it will not fall below the limit provided by the stop and interfere with any of the typewriter-parts. In said horizontal position it may also be engaged for operating the carriage-return and line-spacing of the platen by those who may prefer to operate it in that position in the same manner as with the prior form of linespace lever provided on the portable machines. I

This feature is of great value when the machine is used by a child, asthe finger-piece in the horizontal position is considerably lower and can be more easily reached than when it is vertical.

The finger-piecem the: horizontal position extends outward from the end of the lever an appreciable distance and thereby increases the leverage, thus greatly facilitating the operation of moving the carriage.

These'features permit the machine to be operated by children and others with the least expenditure of energy. In practice the finger-piece may not be raised at all, but left permanently in its horizontal or extended position. For this reason no spring is provided to automatically raise the finger-piece when the cover is removed from the carryingcase. 7

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In theiaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional View, in eleva tion, showing a portion of an Underwood portable typewriter with a line-space lever having a finger-piece, in accordance with the present invention, applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an elevational detail View of the finger-piece for the line-space-lever, in accordance with this invention. I

Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion ofthe typewriter with the present invention applied starting position an'dat-thesame time toline- 7 space the platen 19,- which is rotatably mounted by means of a platen-shaft 20 in the carriage, the machine is provided with a'rocking" lever 21 having an arm 22 for actuating the line-spacmg mechanism, and a forwardlyextendingarm 23' for operatinggih Lever '21 is pivotally mounted on a vertical stu-dQ,

and :the, arm 22 is: connected by means of an intervening; pawl. 25 tog-21 line-space ratchet" I 26E-carriedonthe platen shaftflO. The pawl is i loosely connected with the I lever-arm 22! by means of a stud 27, and isslidinglymountedyin= a; slot: .6- by means of; a; shouldered sore-W29.

In ,accordance-withthis invention, the -forward arm 23-io-f the-lever= 2lzis operated by: means of 'a fingerpiece- 8O pivotally-i'mou-nted uponca suitabletongue 23av formed onthe outer end-thereof, by means. of pivot-pin 31;

; Being pivotally mounted-on the. lever-arm,

. the fingerepiecee mayube'positioned horizontally, so as not to engage the carrying case or: extend above the uppermostportion of the lever-arm when the typewriting machineis:

enclosed in its carrying case.

When it is desiredto operate the machine, the finger-piece may be swung to an upright position where it will be releasably 'heldby means of a plunger followeror-det-ent32. positioned in a hole-33 in thefinger-piece and forced; outwardly by means ofr-a springfi f with sufficient, pressureyto ride into a recess or notch 36-in the-tongue 23a ofthelevere arm 23 and yieldinglymaintain the finger.-

- piece inits upright position.v The plunger32 isprovided with a. tang 35' on its inner end around which thespringBL engiages,-,wherebythe spring-and plunger will .be freely guided in;the;holef33.-.

When it is desired to turn the finger-piece downwardly, 'itqmaybe forced sufficiently to causetheplu-nger'to rideou-t of the recess 36, and then ride over a dwell-face; 23b1toits lowermost position where -a notch '37 thereof will engage a projecting'stop 38 on the end of the tongue of the lever-arm-23 to hold it in ahorizontal position. Stop 38 pre'ventsthe finger piece from dropping; to, aposition where :7 it.- can engage any of, the; typewriter: parts, as, for-example, the spool-cup 39, in the event that; the carriage,- is unintentionally moved, or that-itvis desiredto' operate the typewriter:-with the fin'ge-r-piecein -;its :horizontal position. Iir'the; horizontal position ofthe fingeFpi-ecethespring Bet. operating the combination witha pivoted operating lever," of='cam-surfaceformed at the free end of the lever, an adjustable finger-piece curved at'one end to form a concave fingergripv andslottedvat vthe other end to receive the lever, means for assembling the fingergri-p; to; the lever, andfial detent, includedin the-finger-gri-p, etfectivefor engagingthe:

cam-end of thelevei': and retaining the fingar-piece sin adjusted position;

2. .In: a machine ofnthe character.- described,

the combination with a: pivoted. operating.

lever, of a cam-surface atthefree end, including arlongitudinallyprojecting stop, an adjustable finger-piece; curved at one endto form a' concave, finger-grip and slotted atthe. other'end :to receive the-lever, a zstop-surfaceinssaid slotand-.eff'ective-to engage. said stop, a--piv0t"- for assembling, the finger grip to thelever, and Ja-detent, included in the fin-- ger-piece, .elfective-for engaging the cam-sun:

face of thedever: and: retaining j the fingerpiecein adjusted position. 7

FRED. FRAY.

ifs 

